Bob gives us a shout from OZ
I managed to catch up with a mate of ours here at BlogspotRugby this week , Bob Skinstad, on his tour to Oz with the Springboks, and asked him a few quick questions about the Boks current Tri Nations campaign.
Being a former Springbok himself, Bob is no stranger to the rigours of life on the tour, and should be well equipped in taking part in a quick Q&A session.
Here it goes:
- Dooley: Bob, the Springboks were criticised for playing ‘boring’ rugby after their first 3 wins, but put the flair in for the most recent win against the Wallabies. Do you think there is substance in the ‘boring’ label, or is winning winning at test level?
Bob: People are quick to criticise – especially when they are looking from an opposition fans point of view and their sides aren’t winning – I think there is only one measure for success, and that is winning – and there is also a separate measure for entertainment and that is crowd pulling factor. The IRB made the laws and the Boks play to them – they are just playing to them better than anyone at the moment !
- Dooley: PDV has done a lot better tactically so far in the Tri Nations than in the B&I Lions Series, do you think he will be able to keep the edge on our opponents for the last two games?
Bob: Yes – he has a healthy mix of senior players and young flair players that compliments his strategic edge with one of diverse talents, so they should be able to keep doing that.
- Dooley: PDV looks like he has got the bulk of the Tri Nations squad selection spot on, finally cutting away from one or two unnecessary selections. Are you happy with the current squad and do you feel like anyone really missed out on selection?
Bob: Obviously very happy with his selection as we were almost bang on! I think he has so much talent in this country that it is harder than ever to pick exactly the right mix – barring one or two players going overseas and others retiring – we should see this squad being close to the same for the next two years.
- Dooley: One of the most clear answers that came from the B&I series, in my opinion, is that Jaque Fourie is our best #13. He didn’t receive the ball once from a set piece during the 1st Wallabies test, but scored from 1st phase in the 2nd. Do you think his combination with Jean De Villiers is back to it’s best?
Bob: Form is temporary and class is permanent – he is the best centre in the world and he showed it on Saturday.
- Dooley: Heinrich Brussow has shown he has what it takes to match up to the likes of George Smith and Ritchie McCaw. With Schalk Burger back, where does he stand in the long run?
Bob: He is big part of the success , no doubt , but so is Schalk and the best thing was to see them play together for a bit on Saturday – loose forwards are competitive by nature so it will only enhance the healthy jostling for position within the squad.
- Dooley: The Aussies have twice, uncharacteristically gotten the better of us during the scrums, and John Smit has openly admitted he isn’t yet up to scratch to maintain at prop for the full 80 minutes. Should we be concerned in this area, or do you feel they will rectify it before the next test?
Bob: We will be ok – so long as Bryce Lawrence gets it right – I thought he was in the wrong three or four times on Sat, both for and against us so I am not being biased – he just made judgement errors – scrum reffing has been very poor in the last few years – Wayne Erickson was the last great scrum ref, cause he played prop – hope Wayne Barnes is up to it, cause the Aussies will try and target us there.
- Dooley: Morne Steyn has put his hand up well for continued selection, but perhaps needs to improve on his defense. Do you think Ruan Pienaar, with his creativity at #10, will get another start in order to open the game up now that we all but have the trophy?
Bob: No – I like the 10 / 15 combination with the prodigious talent of Fransie Steyn on the bench – it is the way we will win on Saturday and we need the balance.
- Dooley: Name your ideal starting lineup for the remaining Tri Nations tests?
Bob: Same as before (Aus) – except with Frans on the wing and Odwaon the bench (or other way round , don’t mind), and Danie on the bench.
You can also check out the Q&A session on Bob’s Blog over at the SuperSport website. Also check out Bob’s own personal blog, and don’t forget to follow him on Twitter.
While I’m at it, you can also follow BlogspotRugby on Twitter, or my own Twitter account.
Now that I’m done turning your screen blue, what did you think of Bob’s responses? Do you have a different opinion? Leave a comment.
I think Bob has got it spot on, excuse the pun.
Well formulated Q&A session, Dooley
@Errol Myburgh, Thanks for the support. Took me a while to catch the pun. I’m having a slow day. haha
Dools: excellent Q&A mate. I have a son at Brisbane Boys College where the Bokke are training this week. He got to kick a ball with the Steyns on Monday – he was stoked! Frans knocked over a 70 metre one. Great to see how accessible these guys are and fine ambassadors for your country.
I think my colleague Juan Cote @ greenandgold rugby.com is trying to tee up an interview with Bobcat as well over here. I’ll be doing some leadup stuff and a review of the next All Black v Springbok match so hopefully your boys go lekker. Cheers.
@Lance, shot mate. It’s good to see that they are being made more accessable to the public these days. Frans has a huge boot, no doubt. There’s a story here in the Cape that when he went to SA Schools trials in Stellenbosch at the age of 17 or so, some of the other boys weren’t too stoked with such a young guy being invited, so he showed them why he was there by kicking a penalty from just outside his 22m area. (strong wind at his back, but still)
Can’t wit for Willem De Waal to get back into the team, when will he be back?
What kind of injury has he sustained?
@Elise, He sustained a neck injury, apparently he will be out of the Currie Cup for at least another month or so. Look out for Conrad Hoffman (when he gets back from injury) to get a chance at flyhalf soon. He is a great talent fo the future. He has been a scrumhalf up untill now, but should be able to make the transition easily, and can slot the ball over from anywhere in the half.
Lance great to see the Bokke mix with your kids. Thats one thing I pick up from Snor also, he dont mind talking to the kids and mixing with us locals. I am pretty fortanetly living in Paarl and often see Bokke get to watch their old schools and a guy like Schalk Burger known to be friendly to who ever want to have a chat with him.
Regarding Frans Steyn kicking abilities, myself love watching them on Newlands when they practise those droppies and place kicking. Pretty impressive watching him putting them over with ease.
I spend way to less time with Dooleys site.
@Elise myself know Duvenhage quite well and look like his combo with Grant working pretty well. Always knew Dewaldt had a very good boot on him and also know he can do place kicking just aswell. He sure show Cocky & kie the basic of scrummy play on the weekend and now surely coming to age. Grant do so much more then just the kanonpoot of Genl Willem but lets cross fingers and see WeePee destroy those Brutes on the weekend.
@PaarlBok, I was wondering where you went to mate. Still making great use of that link you sent me. So much usefull info on there.I must admit, I’m a big fan of Frans too, I would love to see him slot a 60+m drop over against the Wallabies on the weekend.
It is great to see that PDV is trying to personalise the Boks with the fans again. I wish they would put some “behind the scenes” footage on the SARugby site like they do on the Aussie site. People like to see that stuff.
I’m more of a Hoffman fan than Duvenage. Hoffman can also slot 3 points from anywhere in the half. I’m keen to see him come on at # 10 and Grant move to #12, cause I’ve seen blind rabbits with more vision than Newman, and De Jongh needs someone who can put him in space to feed to Chavanga for the points. What do you think about the Duvenage – Hoffman – Grant combo?
Interesting Hoffman & Dewaldt played each other in the Paarl Interschools when Hoffmann was in matrix. Think Dewladt is doing fine at the moment and when he started he had to go the Boland route. Interesting nwoadays the player that played one year ahead of him for Paarl Gym, Marnus Hugo for Boland. I watch this three , Marnus, Dewald & Conrad from schooldays. Here is some photos I still have of Dewaldt
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc309/PaarlBok/Dewald.jpg
and Conrad
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc309/PaarlBok/Conrad.jpg
playing in their interschools.
Put Louis Schreuders name down also, He captained WP and Paarl Gym last year and play at the moment for WP U19 scrummy. His mum give match for my kid.
Your combo dont look bad.
@PaarlBok, sorry for the delay in your comment displaying, slight glitch in the system. Thanks for the pics, maybe I will be able to use them in a post sometime.
I also have Schalk Burger
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc309/PaarlBok/SchalkGim.jpg
and Jean de Villiers
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc309/PaarlBok/JeandeVilliers.jpg
in their Bloedwors (Paarl Gym) jerseys if you want to use them.
This one was taken when the Bokke won the TriNations last time and not less then 4 paarl Gimmie players involved
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc309/PaarlBok/PaarlGimBokke.jpg
Lekke man, thanks. I will keep them in mind and see what I can do.
The Scrums: who actually knows whats going on? Consider this, Why dont the two front rows go down first and standing still, get their binds right. Then let the rest of the forwards lock in behind them, then feed the ball. If one looks at front rowers, they all have over developed upper bodies, arms and necks and most cant get their arms up in time to bind. Some clearly don’t even bother. This is where all the chaos takes place. Especially the loose head, he really battles to get into position timeously and has to get his arm up and over past his head to bind – when the”hit” takes place, he’s got no chance. Why would front rowers purposefully do something wrong in an attacking scrum 5m from the try line. I’am confused! The refs need to look at this? Continuous reset scrums just don’t let the game flow! look at most wings, they dont even raise a sweat cos they dont get ball.
@mike, I agree something isn’t coking 100% right in the battle of the front rows. Never having played in the front row myself, I may not be the best person to comment. I don’t think the front row going down first is the answer though. Would’t this be too close to uncontested scrums?
As for the refereeing on the weekend, what a joke. Du Preez rippd the ball, and you can clearly see his hand applying downward pressure to dot it. Australia carried the ball into our in goal area, therefore 22m dropout.
He followed the TMO’s decision that the ball wasn’t dotted, but Australia still carried the ball over our in goal area and then lost possesion. It wasn’t held up, it was loss of possession, therefore atleast a South African feed to the scrum.
Hi Bob.
Please enlighten me on a rule !!
approx 3 min to half-time in todays’s test (12/9/2009)
5 meters from the AB line.
The AB won the ball in the loose.
On passing it back a SA player wanted to charge down the kick (on SA left flank).
He was physically tackled (blocked american style) in his charge.
Is this legal ?
Thanks
Hi Horace,
Thanks for the comment. I will try and refer your comment to Bob and see if he can answer it. In the meantime I may be able to help. I don’t remember that exact moment off hand. I will check the highlights and get back to you if that’s okay.
In a situation like you described, it depends on the circumstances. If one of the All Black players were standing off at a ruck and the Springbok ran into him whilst attempting the carge down, it would be okay as long as the All Black player didn’t change his line to block the Springbok player. If he wasn’t part of the ruck, and he intentionally changed his line to block the Springbok player, it should have resulted in a penalty. As I said though, it really does depend on the situation. I will check the replay and get back to you on that one mate.
I hope you enjoyed the game as much as we did.
Thanks Dooley !
Truely a great game.
As I recall the AB was standing off the ruck behind the ruck.
To me he seemed to actually go towards and tackle the Bok player.
I would also have to see it again to get clarity.
Thanks again